The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-06-12

stage In every feature, ornament and
motion, and this apparently without
trying TO appear conspicuous. The
spectators therefore went away
under the impression that they had
seen a vast gathering of popular,
successful and accomplished women,
tor that is the estimation in which
actresses are usually held, in spite OF
the social taboo against which they
have to contend. There were
about sixty Of these distinguished
women penned together in a rude,
open shanty for the purpose OF sing
ing their parts in two hymns in the
course of the exercises. Except
that their skirts we're long and their
threats covered they looked about as
they do ia comic operas. Their
fashionable hats were poised coquet-
tishly atop of their banged and
frizzled hair, much of which was of
forced blonde shade; their cheeks
were marked by a healthy color that
seemed at distance to be capable Of
standing wash. Their dresses we're
attractive, albeit somewhat pro-
nounced, and their tournures were
extensive and voluminous. They
took lively interest in the cere-
monies and seemed to be as much
swayed by curiosity as the humble
women with babes in their tired
arms who stood against the ropes and
stared about them in uudisguised
wonder. To the chorus girls, as to
the general crowd, Mr.. Edwin Booth
was the center of attention, and when
that dignifed tragedian threw up his
hands convulsively and went down
with the collapsiug platform there
were not wanting fair singers to
shrek in momentary terror lest the
greatest ornament of the American
stage had come to harm. But it was
to be noticed that although they
uttered little cries of fright their
rosy cheeks blanched not.
When it came to singing the Hal
lelujah" chorus from Handers
Messiah" they attended strictly to
business, and the grand old compost
ton vas rendered with an effective
ness well worthy OF its high rank.
Few oratoric societies with twice as
many voices could render the piece
with the power and precision, both
of rythmical accent and enunciation
of words that these professional
comic opera chorus singers did. Not
a false note or intoRation marred the
performance, and the girls had rea.
son to feel proud. So did the three
score plain looking, plainly dressed,
undistinguished gentlemen who sang
with them. These were chorus
singers also, but with their last sum
mer's straw hats and last winters
tiles, they could not be said to bear
the mark of their profession so no.
ticeably as their companions of the
sex. l happened to ride back to the
city in the same Car with five Of these
young women. They SAT- quietly by
themselves, made no effort to attract
attention, and yet were the targets
for all eyes. Not passenger got in
who did not take in at glance that
they were stage folk, and that point
recognized, he or she did not take
eyes off the girls during the entire
trip. The chOristers did not seem to
care, they certainly did not pay any
attention to it, and at the end of the !
route went quietly toward their re-
spective lodging houses, aud people
passing along the streets turned |
thu cir heads tn look at them
There was interest, too, in the way
the people on the main stand, who |
were supposed TO be eminent behaved. |
They were just like the chorus girls |
In their eagerness to see everybody |
and all hat was going ON. Their gar
meDlsf ere invariably imposing ex-
smplle of the highest style. The
cheeks of most of them were redder
than the red, red rose, doubly dis
titled in carmine. Their eyes were
lustrous as diamonds sparkling in
settings OF jet. This description may
be suggestive of make up" and the
facts would amply justify it. These
who were really actresses made
curious study as they descended the
steps from the stand at the conclu-
sion OF the exercises. 1t is only fair
to say that there were some VINO
passed down and disappeared into
the dense crowd as modestly and un-
obtruslvely as parsons wives might
have doue, but the great majority
we're only TOO anxious to pause and
pose, Half way down the steps nat
urally brought one into the most ad-
vantsgeous position to be seen; she
would then be separated from the
crowd behind aud in full view of the
crowd below. So nearly every woman
there on the way down,
looked about over the heads of peo-
pile in an imperiOus way, turned her
head haue htily back to see if her COM
paniOns were following and then con-
tinued her descent impressively,
never deigning to recognize the pres I
ence OF the staring thousands.
Society was startled few years
ago wnen the well known belle, Ma
ROO Laugdon, gave 10 young Mr.. |
Belmont HIS freedom and declined to
renew their matrimonial engagement
alter months If good behavior and
contritioo. Now another lady, not
so well known, bpt a charming WON
an, has severed the bonds that have
bound her an entire season-bonds
that would have been Tiveted by tue
church next fall. We all know why |
Dir. Belmont got his congo, but the |
cause of Mr.. Melons trouble is not
yet widely known. 1t happened ia
this way: The lady has her dresses
made in Paris, but her most intimate
female friend parronz es a man dress
builder here in New York. A Sara |
toga outfit was in course of construc-
ton at this establishment, and the
fanee OF Mr.. Mellon Gas We will |
name him) went with her chum for q
trying on ordeal. During the seance
a girl from the wOrkrooms entered !
with a large box containing a cos
tune TO get some directions as to its